AS a former employee of British Rail I take objection to the political parties using the country’s railway system as a football.

Network Rail is state-owned. The private companies who operate on its tracks do not have the full capacity to strengthen or augment their services due to having neither the manpower or rolling stock to augment carrying capacity.

Inter City Trains can transport people quicker city centre to city centre quicker than airlines can.

I see no need for planned HS2; the cost, disruption and spoilation of the countryside on the planned route can be avoided by updating the West Coast Main Line to take faster services, a far cheaper option.

One of the local casualties if HS2 proceeds is Stanthorne Grange where in the early 19th century Miss Joule was jilted by a Mr Leicester of Stanthorne Hall, leading to the character Miss Havisham in the novel Great Expectations when Charles Dickens ,whilst staying in Over, heard about it.

Alan Ravenscroft Station Road Winsford